Table 1.
Nanofiber-incorporated essential oils for diverse applications.
| Essential Oil | Polymer | Utilization | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lavender (LO) | Polyurethane (PU) | After the encapsulation of LO and cobalt nitrate, the mechanical properties of electrospun PU scaffolds improved, and therefore were beneficial for bone-tissue engineering. It was seen that nanofibers were harmless to human dermal fibroblasts analyzed through MTS (5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazoly)-3-(4-sulfophenyl) tetrazolium assay. | [41] |
| Lavender (LO) | Polycaprolactone (PCL)/Polyethylene glycol (PEG) | This LO encapsulating PCL/PEG nanofibers generated through electrospinning showed a zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. | [42] |
| Thyme (TEO) | Silk fibroin (SF)/Gelatin (GEL) | SF/GEL nanofibers loaded with TEO and doxycycline monohydrate fabricated by electrospinning showed a larger prevention zone against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. In addition, the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2–5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay revealed that this nanofiber was not harmful to mouse fibroblast L929 cells. | [43] |
| Thyme (TEO) | Polycaprolactone (PCL)/Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) | Coaxial electrospun core-shell nanofibers incorporated with TEO showed the highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Thyme-extract encapsulated nanofibers could be used as potential wound-healing material and are promising materials to treat surfaces that contain pathogenic microorganisms. | [44] |
| Thyme (TEO) | Potato starch | Thermal stability of TEO encapsulating potato-starch nanofibers fabricated via electrospinning has been upgraded and can be applied in food products or packaging that requires high temperatures during their production. It can also be used as natural antioxidants in food products because 50% of this oil’s total phenolic compounds are retained after applying a thermal treatment of 100 °C. The antioxidant activity of the oil mentioned above is related to its significant content of phenolic compounds. | [45] |
| Cinnamon (CEO) | Polyurethane (PU) | Electrospinning-fabricated PU nanofiber loaded with CEO and activated carbon inhibited Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus growth. Thus, the nanofiber air filter was more efficient. This nanofibrous air-filter media can be applied in various areas such as antibacterial fibers, personal masks, and air purifiers. | [46] |
| Cinnamon (CEO) | Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) | Fumigant bioassays revealed that CEO inside nanofibers generated using electrospinning was more toxic than free CEO against all stages (e.g., male and female adults) of Phthorimaea operculella, one of the most common insect pests of cultivated potato. Accordingly, this nanofiber was effective in protecting horticulture extracts from pests during storage. | [47] |
| Cinnamon (CEO) | Sodium caseinate (SC)/Cellulose | The SC nanocomposite containing CEO and cellulose nanofiber prepared by the solvent-casting method was found to be successful in prolonging the shelf life and maintaining the quality of dry and oxidation sensitive foods such as nuts, spices, and bread and cereal products. | [48] |
| Cinnamon (CEO) | Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) | Biodegradable electrospun PVA/CEO/β-cyclodextrin nanofibrous film showed excellent antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. It could effectively prolong the shelf-life of strawberries, thus being applicable in active food packaging. |
[49] |
| Cinnamon (CEO) | Polyurethane (PU) | Nanofibers fabricated by electrospinning were nontoxic, as they enhanced the growth of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. They inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. They also reduced the chances of fruit decay. | [50] |
| Cinnamal- dehyde |
Chitosan/ Polyethylene oxide (PEO) |
Chitosan/citric acid/PEO nanofiber mats manufactured by electrospinning could act as delivery vehicles for this oil, potentially eliminating pseudomonas infections. | [51] |
| Cinnamon (CEO) | Polyvinyl pyrroli-done (PVP) |
This nanofiber prepared by emulsion electrospinning showed good antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans with 2, 3, and 4 wt % CEO. | [52] |
| Tea tree oil (TTO) | Chitosan | Electrospinning-prepared nanofiber membrane added with liposome-encapsulated TTO showed the maximum inhibition zone against Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium. It did not corrupt the sensory properties of chicken meat. Therefore, this nanofiber was conducive to extending the shelf life of chicken meat. | [53] |
| Peppermint (PO) | Polyethylene oxide (PEO)/Graphene oxide | Electrospinning-prepared nanofibrous mat having cerium oxide and PO exhibited prolonged antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli due to the surface charge of cerium oxide and antibacterial properties of PO. Moreover, the in vitro MTT assay revealed that the nanofibrous mat exhibited low cytotoxicity toward L929 fibroblasts. The histological evaluations demonstrated that this nanofibrous mat accelerated re-epithelialization and collagen deposition, making it a potential candidate to be applied as a wound dressing to prevent skin infections. It has been shown that graphene oxide-filled nanofibrous scaffolds possess a porous structure and can maintain a moist environment around the wound, thereby facilitating the wound-healing process. | [54] |
| Red thyme/Clove oil (CLV) | Polycaprolactone (PCL) | PCL nanofibers added with CLV and red thyme essential oils prepared by electrospinning could be used as biofilm inhibitive agents on surfaces of biomaterials that are frequently contaminated by Candida tropicalis. | [55] |
| Rosemary (REO)/ Oregano (OEO) |
Cellulose acetate (CA) | Electrospun CA nanofiber loaded with REO and OEO had good antimicrobial properties against three common microbial species: the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and the yeast Candida albicans. This work suggested that OEO was more potent than REO against the three studied microbes, possibly due to the immense microbial role of OEO molecules, such as carvacrol and thymol. | [56] |
| Ginger (GEO) | Chitosan | Chitosan bio-nanocomposite incorporated with sodium montmorillonite and GEO reduced the contamination and therefore improved the shelf life of poultry meat. This fiber can fulfill consumers’ demand for healthier and less chemically modified food products. It maintained the color, flavor, and PH value, and lessened the microbial contamination of meat products wrapped with this fiber. | [57] |